Syllabus JEE MAINS

CIRCLES
Standard form of equation of a circle, general form of the equation of a circle, its radius and
centre, equation of a circle when the end points of a diameter are given, points of intersection of
a line and a circle with the centre at the origin and condition for a line to be tangent to a circle,
equation of the tangent.

Quick Revision
1.

Definition
A circle is defined as the locus of a point which moves in a plane such that its distance
from a fixed point in that plane always remains the same i.e constant.
The fixed point is called the centre of the circle and the fixed distance is called the radius
of the circle.
(Moving point)

P
O

Fixed point

Plane

2.

Standard forms of various types of equation of circle

2.1

Central form of equation of circle

The equation of a circle having centre (h, k) and radius r is ( x h)2 ( y k )2

r
(h,k)

P(x,y)

r2

2.2

Equation of circle with center as origin and given radius

This is the simplest equation of the circle is x2+y2 = r2 whose centre is (0, 0) and radius
r.

2.3

Point circle
A circle whose radius id equal to zero is known as defined as point circle so its equation
can be obtained by substituting value of radius equal to zero in any kind of circle
equation
Example : If r = 0 then circle is called point circle and its

P(x,y)

equation is ( xh)2 + ( yk)2 = 0

90

2.4

Diameter form of the circle

(x1,y1)A
C (h,k)

The equation of the circle drawn on the straight line

joining two given points ( x 1, y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) as diameter
is. (x x1 )(x x2 ) (y y1 )(y y2 ) 0
2.5

General equation of the circle

The general equation of a circle is x 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0,

where g, f, c are constant.

Centre of the circle is (g, f). i.e., (

Radius of the circle is

g2

1
coefficient of x,
2

1
coefficient of y)
2

f2 c .

The general equation of second degree ax 2 by 2 2hxy 2gx 2fy c 0 represents a

circle if a b 0 and h 0 .
The above equation represents
if a b 0 and h 0 .
a real circle if

g 2 + f2 > c

a point circle if

g 2 + f2 = c

an imaginary circle if g2 + f2 < c

B(x2,y2)

In the above equation

2.6

If c = 0

the circles passes through the origin

If f = 0

the centre is on x-axis

If g = 0

the centre is on y-axis

Parametric equation of the circle

The parametric equations of a circle x2 + y2 = r2 are x = rcos , y = rsin .
Hence parametric coordinates of any point lying on the circle x 2 + y2 = r2 are (rcos ,
rsin )
The parametric equations of the circle (x h)2 + (y k)2 = r2 are x = h + r cos , y = k +
rsin .
Hence parametric coordinates of any point lying on the circle are (h + rcos , k + rsin )
Parametric equations of the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is
x=g+

2.7

g2

f2

cos ,

y=f+

g2

f2

sin

Equation of circumcircles
Circumcircle of a triangle : If we are given sides of a triangle, then first we should find
vertices then we can find the equation of the circle using general form.
Alternate : If equation of the sides are L1
is (L1.L 2 )

(L 2 .L 3 )

(L 3 .L1 )

0 , where

out by the conditions, coefficient of x 2

0, L 2

and

0 and L 3

0 , then equation of circle

are the constant which can be found

coefficient of y 2 and coefficient of xy = 0

If the triangle is right angled then its hypotenuse is the diameter of the circle. So using
diameter form we can find the equation.
Circumcircle of a square or a rectangle : Diagonals of the square and rectangle will
be diameters of the circumcircle. Hence finding the vertices of a diagonal, we can easily
determine the required equation.

Alternate : If sides of a quadrilateral are L1

equation of circle is L1 L3

L 2 L4

0, where

0, L2

0, L3

0 and L4

0 . Then

is a constant which can be obtained by

the condition of circle.

2.8

Equation of circle in some special cases

Which touches both axes : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching both
coordinate axes is given by(x a)2 + (y a)2 = a2

a
h

Which touches x-axis : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching x-axis

at a distance h from the origin is (x h)2 + (y a)2 = a2

The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching x-axis at the origin is
x2 + (y a)2 = a2
x2 + y2 2ay = 0

Which touches y-axis : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching y-axis

at a distance k from the origin is

(x a)2 + (y k)2 = a2

The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching y-axis at the origin is
(x a)2 + y2 = a2

x2 + y2 2ax = 0

The equation of the circle through three non-collinear points A ( x1, y1 ),B ( x 2 , y 2 ), C ( x 3 , y 3 ) :
Let the equation of circle be x 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

..(i)
If three points ( x1, y1 ), ( x 2 , y 2 ), ( x 3 , y 3 ) lie on the circle (i), their co-ordinates must satisfy
its equation. Hence solving equations x12

y 12

2gx1

2fy1

..(ii)
x 22

y 22

2gx 2

2fy 2

..(iii)

x 32

y 32

2gx 3

2fy 3

..(iv)

g, f, c are obtained from (ii), (iii) and (iv). Then to find the circle (i).
Alternative method
The equation of the circle through three non-collinear points A ( x 1, y 1 ),B ( x 2 , y 2 ), C ( x 3 , y 3 )
is

3.

x2
x 12
x 22

y2
y 12
y 22

x
x1
x2

y 1
y1 1
y2 1

x 32

y 32

x3

y3 1

Intercept on the axes

The lengths of intercepts made by the circle x 2
are 2 g 2

4.

c and 2 f 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0 with X and Y axes

c respectively.

Intercept on x-axis

2 g2

Intercept on y-axis

2 f2 c

Position of a point w.r.t to circle

A point ( x 1, y 1 ) lies outside, on or inside a circle S

x2

y2

as
S1

if,

x 12

y 12

2gx 1

2fy 1

c is positive, zero or negative i.e.

S1

(x1, y1) Point is outside the circle.

S1

(x1, y1) Point is on the circle.

S1

(x1, y1) Point is inside the circle.

5.

Intersection of a line and a circle

5.1

Position of a line

2gx 2fy c

0 according

Let L = 0 be a line and S = 0 be a circle. If 'a' be the radius of the circle and 'p' be the
length of the perpendicular from its centre on the line, then if

5.2

p>a

line L is outside the circle

p=a

line L touches the circle

p<a

line L is a chord of the circle

p=0

line L is a diameter of the circle

Condition of tangency
Circle x 2

y2

a 2 will touch the line y

a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2
c2

a 1 m 2 if,

a 2 (1 m 2 ) line will touch the circle.

0 line will meet circle at two imaginary points.

Point of contact of Line is given by

The line ax
r 2 (a 2

by

(lg mf

am
2

1 m

a
1 m2

0 is a tangent to the circle x 2

y2

r 2 if and only if

b 2 ).

The condition that the line lx

5.3

c if c

0 line will meet the circle at real and different points.

a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2

c2

mx

n) 2

(l 2

m 2 ) (g 2

f2

my

0 touches the circle x 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0 is

c ).

Length of a intsercept cut by a intersecting line to a circle

The length of the intercept cut off from the line y
2

a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2
1 m2

6.

Tangent at a given points

6.1

Equation of tangent in point form

mx

c by the circle x 2

y2

a 2 is

For equation of tangent of any type of conic at (x 1 , y1 ) , substitute xx 1 for x 2 , yy1 for
y2,

x1

for x,

y1

for y and

xy 1

x 1y

for xy and keep the constant as such .From

above assumption
The equation of tangent at (x1, y1) to circle x 2

y2

a 2 is xx 1

The equation of tangent at ( x 1, y 1 ) to circle x 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

xx 1

yy 1

g( x

x1 ) f(y

y1 ) c

6.2

0 is

y . a sin

a 2 or

from

P( x 1, y 1 )

a .(parametric form )

y sin

Length of the tangent

Let
x2

PQ
y2

and

2gx

PR

2fy

be

two

tangents

drawn

to

the

circle

0. Then PQ =PR is called the length of tangent drawn from point

P and is given by PQ = PR
6.3

a2

The equation of tangent at (a cos , a sin ) is x . a cos

x cos

yy 1

x 12

y 12

2gx 1

2fy 1

S1

Point of contact of a tangent

If circle be x 2

y2

a 2 and tangent in terms of slope be y

point of (x,y) contacts are given by (x,y)=

am

m 2 ) ,Then its

(1 m 2 )

(1 m )

If the line y = mx + c is the tangent to the circle x2 y2

a (1

,
2

mx

a2 then point of contact is given by

ma2 a2
,
c c

If the line lx+my+n = 0 is the tangent to the circle x2+y2=a2 then point of contact is given by
la2
ma2
,
n
n

6.4

Equation of pair of tangents

For
S

a
x2

given
y2

Where S

point

2gx 2fy c

P( x 1, y 1 )

two

tangents

can

0. Their combined equation is SS 1

0 is the equation of circle, T

be

drawn

to

the

circle

T 2.

0 is the equation of tangent at (x 1 , y1 ) and S1

is obtained by replacing x by x1 and y by y1 in S.

6.5

Area of quadrilateral made by pair of tangents

For a given point P( x1, y1 ) two tangents can be drawn to the circle
S

x2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0. then the area of quadrilateral formed by radius and pair of

tangents is given by
Area of the quadrilateral is

r * s1

If OA and OB are the tangents from the origin to the circle x 2 y 2 2 gx 2 fy c 0 and C is
the centre of the circle, then the area of the quadrilateral OACB is

c (g2

f2

c ).

S + S' = 0

7.

Family of Circles

7.1

Circle passing through intersection of two circles

S=0

S'=0

If S = 0 and S' = 0 are two intersecting circles, the S + S' = 0 ( 1) represents

family of circles passing through intersection points of S = 0 and S' = 0 ( being
parameter)
S + L=0

7.2

Circle passing through intersection of circle and a line

L=0

If S = 0 and L = 0 represent a circle and a line, then S + L = 0 represent

S=0

family of circles passing through intersection points of circle S= 0 and line

L = 0 (being parameter)

8.

Angle of Intersection of a circle

The angle of intersection between two circles S = 0 and S' = 0 is defined as the angle
between their tangent at their point of intersection.
If

S x2 + y2 + 2g1x + 2f 1y + c1 = 0
A
2

S' x + y + 2g2x + 2f2y + c2 = 0

S=0

S'=0

are two circles with radii r1, r2 and d be the distance between their centres then the
angle of intersection between them is given by

cos=

8.1

r12 r22 d2
2r1 r2

or

cos=

2 g1 g2 f1 f2
2 g12

f12

c1 c 2

c1 g22

f22

c2

Condition of Orthogonality
If the angle of intersecton of the two circle is a right angle then such circle are called
Orthogonal circle. In PC1C2
(C1C2)2 = (C1P)2 + (C2P)2
+ f22 c2

d2 = r12 + r22 (g1g2)2 + (f1f2)2 = g12+f12c1+g22

2g1 g2 + 2f1f2 = c1 + c2 (Condition of orthogonality).

9.

Some Standard Result

If the line lx + my + n = 0 is a tangent to the circle x 2 + y2 = a2, then a2 (l2 + m2) = n2.
If the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is a point circle then g2 + f2 = c.
The length of the tangent drawn from any point on the circle x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c1 = 0
to

the
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is

circle

c c1

If the circles x2 + y2 + 2gx + c2 = 0 and x2 + y2 + 2fy + c2 = 0 touch each other, then .

1

g2

f2

c2

If the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 touches x-axis and y-axis, then g2 = c and f 2 = c
respectively.

 If two tangents drawn from the origin to the circle x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 are
perpendicular to each other, then g2 + f2 = 2c.
If the tangent to the circle x2 + y2 = r2 at the point (a, b) meets the coordinates axes at
the points A and B and O is the origin, then the area of the
P

r4
triangle OAB is
.
2ab

r1

r2
(-g2, -f2)

(-g1, -f1)
C1

C2

If is the angle subtended at P(x1, y1) by the circle S = x2 +

y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, then cot

S1
2

f2 c

If the line lx + my + n = 0 is a tangent to the circle (x h)2 + (y k)2 = a2, then (hl + km
+ n)2 = a2 (l2 + m2).
The angle between the tangents from (, ) to the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is 2 tan1
a
2

a2

If lines l1x + m1y + n1 = 0 and l2x + m2y + n2 = 0 cut the axes at concyclic points, then
l1l2 = m1m2.
The area of the triangle formed by the tangents from the points (h, k) to the circle x 2 + y2
= a2 and their chord of contact is

a
h2 k 2

(h2 k 2 a2 )3 / 2